Allegheny Independent Media has its first independent contributor. Barbara White has been active for years with Put People First- PA (PPF). With pandemic era restrictions winding down, millions are faced with the possibility of Medicaid Cutoffs.
In April we began a true-to-life horror story named “The Unwinding” invented by Republicans & Democrats. During the pandemic, there was continuous enrollment for people on Medicaid. But in December 2022, Congress decided that people on Medicaid need to re-apply, and the re-application process began in April 2023. An email I recently received from a politician’s office shows they don’t see it as a crisis, although over 1 million people in PA are at risk of losing Medicaid healthcare. Despite warning us that “all Medicaid and CHIP recipients must complete a renewal application to see if they still qualify for coverage”, we are given a non-solution: “Fortunately, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and Pennie, Pennsylvania’s health insurance marketplace, are working together to ensure that Pennsylvanians keep access to health coverage, either through Medicaid, CHIP, or an affordable, high-quality plan through Pennie.”
What we’re not being told:
– Many people can be cut off Medicaid although still eligible and will need to appeal. – The ‘unwinding’ letters can be delayed and/or confusing so even when people are looking for the letter, there’s very little time to appeal & keep your benefits during the appeal.
– Most Pennie plans have high premiums or high deductibles so either we pay premiums and healthcare costs, or don’t use them at all because we can’t afford those costs.
– Have the politicians or their staff been on Medicaid or had healthcare through Pennie? I’ve had both; Medicaid is better. My plan under the Affordable Care Act cost me tens of thousands of dollars for premiums and care, took much of my savings and I became poor.
– What can we do about it? Join us at Put People First! PA. We reject this horror story. No more Medicaid Cutoffs. We’re demanding universal healthcare, Medicaid for all. Put People First! PA: Home